[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 6, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 5416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1821]



[[Page 5416]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: 2007 Census Bilingual Form Study.
    Form Number(s):

Advance Letter Package/Reminder Card

DE-5(L)--Advance Letter (English).
DE-5(L)(E/S)--Advance Letter Bilingual English/Spanish.
DE-5--Outgoing Envelope for Advance Letters.
DE-9--Reminder Postcard (English).
DE-9(L)(E/S)--Reminder Letter Bilingual English/Spanish.

Questionnaires

DE-1--Mailback INITIAL Mailing (Also used for Replacement).
DE-1(E/S)--Bilingual English/Spanish (Start Here Cover/7&8person 
panels).
DE-2(E/S)-- Bilingual English/Spanish (Directors Letter Cover).

Letters

DE-16(L)-- Cover Letter--INITIAL Mailing.
DE-16(L)(E/S)--Cover Letter Bilingual--INITIAL Mailing [DE-1(E/S)].
DE-17(L)--Cover Letter REPLACEMENT Mailing.

Envelopes

DE-6A--INITIAL Mailing Outgoing Envelope (English).
DE-8A--INITIAL Mailing Return Envelope.
DE-6C--REPLACEMENT Mailing Outgoing Envelope.
DE-6B--Bilingual/INITIAL Mailing Outgoing Envelope.
DE-8B--BilingualReturn Envelope.

    Agency Approval Number: 0607-0915.
    Type of Request: Regular submission.
    Burden: 5,000 hours.
    Number of Respondents: 30,000.
    Average Hours Per Response: 10 minutes.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau tested a bilingual census form in 
the 2005 National Census Test (NCT). The bilingual questionnaire had a 
``swim lane'' design that provided two response columns, one in English 
and one in Spanish, each containing the same questions and response 
categories. This form was mailed to a randomly selected set of 10,000 
housing units across the United States.
    The results from the 2005 NCT show that the bilingual form 
significantly increased the self response rate nationally (by 2.2 
percentage points for paper response, and 1.1 percentage points for 
total response), and more specifically, in areas where there is a high 
concentration of non-White and Hispanic populations (Bouffard and 
Tancreto, 2006). Moreover, the bilingual form resulted in a higher 
proportion of response from Hispanic persons than the English-only 
form. However, item nonresponse rates for the bilingual form were 
higher for all household level items and Hispanic origin compared to 
the English-only form (Bouffard et al., 2006). There are many potential 
reasons for these item nonresponse discrepancies, including forms 
design, question wording, translation, and differences in the 
responding population.
    The purpose of a follow-up test of the bilingual form is to discern 
if the item nonresponse issues can be resolved by improved form design 
and utilization of the questions that will be on the form in the 2008 
Census Dress Rehearsal. Moreover, this test provides the opportunity to 
study the impact of the bilingual form in areas that contain a heavy 
concentration of Spanish-speaking people with limited English 
proficiency. Furthermore, this test provides the opportunity to verify 
the 2005 NCT finding of increased response to the bilingual census 
form.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 141 and 193.
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, room 6625, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or e-mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: January 31, 2007.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. E7-1821 Filed 2-5-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P